The Beatles recorded two versions of Ray Charles’ ‘I Got A Woman’ for BBC radio.
Charles released ‘I Got A Woman’ as a single in December 1954. The Beatles performed it live on many occasions in the early 1960s, prior to their record deal with EMI, with John Lennon on lead vocals.
Although the group never recorded it in the studio, they performed ‘I Got A Woman’ twice for BBC radio shows. Their arrangement was more similar to Elvis Presley’s 1956 version, which The Beatles most likely heard on his debut UK album Rock ‘N’ Roll No 1.
In the studio
The Beatles first recorded ‘I Got A Woman’ on 16 July 1963 at the BBC Paris Theatre in London, for the ninth edition of the Pop Go The Beatles programme. It was first broadcast on 13 August. This version can be heard on the Live At The BBC collection.
They performed it again on 31 March 1964 for Saturday Club. Recorded at the Playhouse Theatre, London, it first transmitted on 4 April that year, and officially released on the 2013 album On Air – Live At The BBC Volume 2.
This second version of ‘I Got A Woman’ was faster than the 1963 take. It featured a double-tracked vocal by John Lennon, but without the stop-start rhythms and the delayed appearance of the drums.
Lyrics
Well I got a woman
Way across town
She’s good to me, oh-oh yeah
Say I got a woman
Way across town
She’s good to me, oh yeah
She gives me money
Every time I need
Yes you know she’s the kind of friend indeed
Say I got a woman
Way across town
She’s good for me, oh yeah
She say she loves me
Early in the morning
Just for me, oh-oh yeah
She say she loves me
Early in the morning
Just for me, oh yeah
She say she loves me
Just for me, yeah
You know, oh she loves me
So tenderly
I got a woman
Way across town
She’s good to me, oh yeah
Ow!
She’s there to love me
All day and night
Never grumbles or fusses
Just treats me right
Never running in the streets
Leaving me alone
She’s knows a woman’s place
Right back there with her, hanging ’round the home
I got a woman
Way across town
She’s good for me, oh yeah
Well I’ve got a woman
Way across town
She’s good to me, oh yeah
Well she’s my baby
’cause she understands
I’m her loving man
Say I got a woman
Way across town
She’s good to me, oh yeah
Well I bet she’s all right
Well I bet she’s all right
I got a woman
Way across town
She’s good to me
Oh yeah
This song could have perfectly belonged to any of their early albums (Please please me or With the Beatles), I love it.
Obviously, their version is based on Elvis Presley’s cover of the song, rather than Ray Charles’ original. Supposedly, Elvis first cut this while still at Sun Records, but that version has been lost.
The bootleg version is simply fantastic, rolling on all fours! i wondered why the other version was chosen for live at the beeb, it’s good too, but the second version is a killer! love it!